MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 23: Will Genia of the Rebels runs with the ball during the round six Super Rugby match between the Melbourne Rebels and the Sharks at AAMI Park on March 23, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

NOW the Melbourne Rebels face their biggest test.

After sweeping aside the Sharks from Durban 46-14 on Friday night, the Rebels reclaimed top spot on the Super Rugby table.

The Rebels are 2-1 in games against fellow Australian teams this year, have beaten the Sunwolves from Tokyo and then South Africa’s Sharks.

But the visit of the Wellington Hurricanes to AAMI Park on Friday night will take things to a whole new level for Dave Wessels’ new-look outfit.

Australian sides lost all 26 of their encounters against New Zealand teams last year, an embarrassing statistic not ever seen in the competition’s 22-year history.

But rather than worry about such daunting historical notes, Rebels captain Adam Coleman said the first five weeks of the season had proved one thing to him — if his side can get its own act together, the rest will look after itself.

Will Genia in action for the Rebels. He’ll have to be at his beat against the Hurricanes next week.Source:Getty Images

“I think it will be a great challenge,” Coleman said.

“We haven’t looked too much into it being a Kiwi team.

“We just have to stay to what has been working for us — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Rebels veteran Dom Shipperley revealed to his teammates post-match he was retiring from rugby, the luckless former Wallabies winger succumbing to yet another serious knee injury.